Rail switch



Feb. 24, 1931. STRONG 1,793,976

' RAIL SWITCH Fi ed Aug. 20, 1930 2 Sheets-5heet l 1931 I J. B. STRONG1,793,976

RAIL SWITCH Filed A112. 20. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I \WW Patented Feb.24', 1931 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES B. STRONG, 0F FEW YORK, N.Y., ASSIGId'OB TO BAIAIPO AJAX. CORPORATION,

03' NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK RAILSWITGE Applicationfiled August 20, 1930. semi Io. 470,417.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of This invention relates toswitches, and more particularly to a new and improved system of switchpoint planing by which a switch point of increased strength is obtained.

A switch point constructed in accordance with the present invention isprovided with a head which is cut or beveled on the inside at asubstantial angle to the vertical to engage with a rail having a headwhich is undercut and provided with a complementary surface adapted toengage the inclined surface of the switch point. The outer surface ofthe switch point is inclined to engage the flange of a car-wheel and ina preferred form the angles of inclination of the inner and outersurfaces are approximately equal. This provides a comparatively largequantity of metal in the head of the switch point which strengthens theassembly and lessens the liability of the point becoming warped orinjureddue to frequent contact with the car wheel. Strengthening membersare also preferably provided along the web of the switch point andextend into engagement with the head'of the switch point adjacent saidinclined surfaces. The construction accordingly provides a substantialquantity of metal in all parts of the switch point and materiallyincreases the strength thereof.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the modeof its operation and the manner of its organiaation may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1is a plan view of the switch constructed in accordance with the presentinvention; F Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is asectiontaken on the line 3-3 ofFig.1;

Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of F1g. 1; and y 7 is anenlarged sectional view of a stan ard rail head showing the amount ofundercut and increased metal contained in the improved switch point ofthe present invention.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identifiedby specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be asgeneric in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the invention is shown asapplied to a switch comprising a pair of stationary rails 10 of standardconstruction and a pair of switch points comprising a pair ofmovablelrails 11 which are connected to rails 12 in any standard mannerand. are adapted to be thrown into contact with eitherof the rails 10 inresponse to suitable actuating mechanism, not shown. Each of the rails11 comprising a switch point includes a web ortion 15, head 16 and baseflange-17. Said base flange extends downwardly in an inclineddirectlonand is adapted to contact with and rest on base 18 of rail 10- when theswitch point is in engagement therewith.

Head 16 of the switch point is formed with an outer surface 19 which isinclined to engage the flange of the car-wheel andis provided with aninner surface 20 having a substantial inclination to the verticalopposite to that of surface 19. The inclinations of surfaces 19 and 20are preferably such that the base of head 16 is of substantial width,preferably in excess of the width of web 15. Head 21 of rail 10 isrovided on the inside with an undercut sur ace 22 which is complementaryto the inclinedsurface 20 ofthe switch omt and is adapted to engage thesame when the switch is in closed position. The inclinations of surfaces19 and 20 are preferably equal, although it is obvious that theinclinations may vary in difierent in- Y switch point, however, it isnoted that head 16 rogressively increases in width, as shown in igs. 2to 6, and also increases in elevation with respect to the elevation ofrail head 21, so that before the point becomes separated from the mainrail the weight of the wheel is entirely supported on head 16 and not byI the outer rail 10.

A pair of strengthening members 25 are referably mounted on the switchpoint adacent web 15 and extend upwardly into engagement with head 16.Said members are also provided. at their upper edges with inclinedsurfaces 26 and 27 preferably forming continuations of surfaces 19 and20 respec-.

tively. Said strengthening members may be secured to the web 15 of theswitch point in any desired manner as by bolts 28 which are extendedthroughsaid members and through said web and secured by nuts 29 and lockwashers 30.

Referring to Fig. 7 the portion 31 indicates the amount of inclinationof the standard rail and the amount of material which must be removedtherefrom to form the inclined surface 22. It will be noted than anequivalent amount of material is added to the inner surface of theswitch point and serves to materially strengthen the same. A type ofswitch point commonly used with a standard rail head is provided with ahead 32 which has an outer inclined surface 33 similar to surface 19 ofhead 16, but has an inner surface 34 which is inclined in the samedirection as surface 38 and provides a head of extremely thin crosssection. It will be noted that the material which is added to the switchpoint in the above construction more than doubles the cross sectionalarea thereof at. the free end'and increases the strength of said switchpoint by an even greater amount due to the efficient distribution of themetal.

The reeuforcing members 25 also cooperate with .the enlarged head 16 toform a articularly rigid and firm structure in w ich the tendency towarp and the possibility of injury is reduced to a minimum.

While certain novel features of the inven tion have been shown anddescribed and are What is claimed is:

1. A switch structure comprising a switch point, said switch pointhavlng an outer inclined surface adapted to contact, with a wheel flangeand an inner surface oppositely inclined to said first mentioned surfaceand adapted to contact with a com lementary inclined surface on arailhea 2. A switch structure comprisin a switch point having an u perincline surface adapted to contact w1th the flange of a carwheel and aninner surface inclined to the vertical opposite to said first mentionedsurface, the angles of inclination of said inner and outer surfacesbeing substantially equal whereby a substantial quantity of metal issition.

4. A switch pointpomprisinga rail having head and web portions, saidhead portion having oppositely! inclined surfaces and beingsubstantially wider at the base than at the top and strengtheningmembers located adjacent said web section and extending substantiallyto'said head section, said strengthening members having surfaces formedas continuations of said inclined surfaces.

5. A switch structure comprising a rail, a switch point associatedtherewith and having a head provided with oppositely inclined surfaces,said rail also being provided with a head having a surfacecomplementaril -inclined to receive the head of said ,switc inted out inthe annexed claims it will. be

understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in theforms and details without departing from the spirit of the ing vention.1

